murky

IPA/ˈmɜːki/
KK[mˈɚki]IPA/ˈmɜːrki/

murky — 形容詞

  • murkypositive
  • murkiercomparative
  • murkiestsuperlative

1. describes water, air, or a place that is so dark, dirty, or full of mud or smoke

1.形容詞B2
釋義

混濁；陰暗

因髒污或光線不足而難以看清的

describes water, air, or a place that is so dark, dirty, or full of mud or smoke that you cannot see clearly through it

例句

The river water looked murky after the heavy rain washed soil into it.

大雨把泥土沖進河裡之後，河水變得十分混濁。

Kasia shone her torch into the murky pond but could not see the bottom.

Kasia 拿手電筒照向混濁的池塘，卻看不到底部。

torch + murky pond — checking visibility

同義詞
  • cloudy

    closer to white/grey opacity; less dirty than murky

  • muddy

    specifically containing mud or silt; murky is broader

  • foggy

    only of air or atmosphere, not liquids

反義詞

用法筆記

Commonly used for natural bodies of water (rivers, lakes, ponds) after rain or disturbance, and for air filled with smoke, fog, or dust.

常見錯誤

❌The sky is murky today so I need sunglasses.
✅The sky is hazy/bright today so I need sunglasses.
💡murky describes dark/unclear conditions, not bright or sunny weather.
❌The coffee looks murky.
✅The coffee looks cloudy/muddy.
💡murky implies dirt or sediment, not simply a thick drink like coffee.

2. describes a situation, event, or explanation that is complicated, not clearly un

2.形容詞B2
釋義

不明朗；可疑

情況複雜且不透明，令人懷疑的

describes a situation, event, or explanation that is complicated, not clearly understood, and often seems dishonest or untrustworthy

例句

The company's financial records are murky, and investigators suspect hidden debts.

這家公司的財務記錄不明朗，調查人員懷疑有隱藏債務。

murky + financial records — figurative of business

Niran tried to explain his sudden resignation, but his story remained murky.

Niran 試圖解釋他為何突然辭職，但他的說詞仍然不明不白。

同義詞
  • obscure

    more formal; can mean unknown rather than suspicious

  • shady

    informal, strongly suggests dishonesty

  • ambiguous

    focuses on multiple possible interpretations, not on dishonesty

反義詞

用法筆記

Frequently collocates with nouns like records, past, circumstances, affairs, politics, waters. Unlike sense 1, this sense does not describe physical visibility.

常見錯誤

❌The instructions were murky so I got lost.
✅The instructions were unclear/confusing so I got lost.
💡murky suggests intentional concealment or dishonesty, not merely hard to follow.
❌My understanding of physics is murky.
✅My understanding of physics is vague/shaky.
💡murky is for situations, not personal knowledge.